Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Mary Ellen Benninger who has volunteered her time and talents to our schools in Hillsborough, California for decades. She is being honored tonight as the Citizen of the Year by the Associated Parents Group.

Mary Ellen's dedication to our schools and our community is an inspiration to parents, teachers and students alike. Her leadership and contributions have made Hillsborough's schools the best they can be for our children.

Mary Ellen started to volunteer when her children attended South School and then Crocker Middle School. For the last eight years she served on the Hillsborough City School District Board of Trustees where her board colleagues lovingly call her MEB. She was board president from 2008-2010 and has served on the Citizen Oversight Committee, Bond Finance Committee and as Trustee Liaison to Hillsborough's School Foundation during her tenure.

Wherever Mary Ellen gets involved, her leadership helps set the direction of the organization or initiative she takes on. While on the HCSD board, Mary Ellen simultaneously served as a Hillsborough Recreation Commissioner from 2005-2007 and on the Hillsborough Schools Foundation from 1999-2013. She also volunteered for the South School Parent Group Board, the Hillsborough Little League and Concours d'Elegance and was deeply engaged in passing Measure B. At St. Bartholomew's Catholic Church, she was a Catechism teacher for ten years.

I feel fortunate to count Mary Ellen as a friend and am a long-time admirer of her lasting contributions to our community. She is altruistic, passionate, intelligent and has an extraordinary memory. Her superb service has not gone unnoticed. She received the Eric Award and the South Hillsborough School's Outstanding Service to Youth Award.

Mary Ellen was born in Seattle, Washington. She graduated from Mayo High School in Rochester, Minnesota in 1975 and earned her BA in Economics from Stanford University in 1979. She had a successful career in retail management for 16 years.

In 1986, she married her freshman dorm sweetheart, Tom Benninger. Six years later they moved to Hillsborough and raised their two children Will and Claire. When Mary Ellen is not giving her time, she enjoys tennis, skiing and hiking.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Mary Ellen Benninger whose big heart runs over with love for all children in our tony town of Hillsborough. Winston Churchill once said, ``We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.'' Mary Ellen has made an exceptional life for herself benefitting our entire community.

Mr. Speaker, I have spent a fair amount of time on the House floor talking about sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape in the military; in fact, I have spoken 30 times about that issue. But it is apparent that we also need to spend some time talking about sexual harassment in this Chamber.

This is the Congress of the United States of America. This is the House of Representatives of the United States of America. This is not a frat house.

Regrettably, this week, another one of our colleagues was discovered engaged in inappropriate action with a member of his staff. This is not the first time. It will probably not be the last time. It happens on the Republican side. It happens on the Democratic side. That doesn't make it okay.

Almost 25 years ago, Anita Hill testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee. There were six male Senators that questioned her. They suggested that she somehow had wanted it or was lying. I was so mad. I remember watching that testimony and throwing my slipper at the television. That was in 1991.

The following year, 1992, was called the Year of the Woman in Congress. Women were mad. That year, more women were elected to Congress than ever before. In fact, in California, we elected two U.S. Senators: Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer.

It is time for us to recognize that we have a problem. It is not okay to fondle a staff member. It is not okay to make suggestive comments to a staff member. It is not okay to have provocative pictures on your computer. It is just not okay to conduct ourselves in that manner.

Today, I am introducing a bill that I have been working on for some time that will require that every Member of this House and every staff member participate in a training on sexual harassment at least once every 2 years.

We are only asking ourselves to do what is being done by over 60 percent of the corporations in this country. In fact, in California, I carried legislation that required the posting of signage in every corporation about what sexual harassment was, the rights and responsibilities around it, and what steps you could take if it happened. We then took steps to make sure every member of the State legislature was subject to sexual harassment training at least once every 2 years.

Here in Congress, there is an Office of Compliance. Ironically, the Office of Compliance is where you might report sexual harassment, but then the Office of Compliance is responsible for protecting the office. Go figure.

It is time, Mr. Speaker, for us to clean up our act. It is time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to raise awareness of alopecia areata and the contributions of devoted individuals working to improve the lives of patients affected by this condition.

I am proud to represent the foremost organizations working exclusively to better the lives of individuals and families affected by alopecia areata, the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. President and Chief Executive Officer Vicki Kalabokes recently announced that she will be stepping down after 27 years of service at the foundation. Her leadership in the field will be missed and I congratulate her on behalf of the alopecia areata community as well as the dermatology and autoimmune disease communities for an impressive, productive and meaningful career.

Ms. Kalabokes has been both a scientific resource for medical experts at the National Institutes of Health and a compassionate champion for children struggling with the impact of alopecia areata. Her dedication led to the establishment of the Alopecia Areata Treatment Development Program, which should generate some of the first Food and Drug Administration-indicated treatment options for the community. While there is a still a great distance

to go before a cure is discovered, Ms. Kalabokes should be acknowledged for how far she has advanced this effort.

The foundation's research program is committed to piecing together the puzzle presented by alopecia areata. Part of NAAF's mission is to encourage research in alopecia areata, striving to find a cure or acceptable treatment. NAAF accomplishes the research mission by funding an acclaimed research grant program, and seeking out investigators worldwide in the areas of genetics, immunology and clinical research.

Under Ms. Kalaboke's leadership, NAAF has been at the forefront of many fruitful studies that yielded answers to some of the largest questions surrounding the autoimmune disease. The organization's commitment to continuing this search until all of the questions about alopecia areata are answered and the mechanisms of this disease are clearly understood is an inspiration to those who struggle with the condition.

Ms. Kalabokes' helped to transform the foundation from a small national support group into an international research, support and awareness organization. She is leaving the foundation in the most sound financial condition in its history.

After 27 years, Ms. Kalabokes is ready to leave her stable NAAF family to be with her growing personal family.

I rise today to honor the accomplishments of Vicki Kalabokes and to call attention to the need to continue to advance research in the area of alopecia areata and to improve patient care.

Madam Speaker, last week, as the world watched in disbelief, the trial of Brigadier General Sinclair concluded much as it began, flawed and unjust.

Even with the world watching, the military once again demonstrated its outright incompetence at administering justice.

Brigadier General Sinclair walked out of the court a free man, even though he had pled guilty to these charges:

He pled guilty to an inappropriate relationship with his accuser; an inappropriate relationship with another female Army captain; an inappropriate relationship with a female Army major; possessing and displaying pornographic images and videos on his computer in Afghanistan.

He pled guilty to using a government-issued travel card for personal purposes for a trip to Tucson, Arizona, and a trip to Fort Hood, Texas, to see his mistress.

He pled guilty to attempting to start an inappropriate relationship with a female Army lieutenant; sexually explicit communications with a female Army major, requesting and receiving nude photos and a sexually explicit video of her.

He pled guilty to vulgar language to describe female staff officers; impeding an investigation; and adultery with his accuser.

Again, these aren't the charges the judge found Sinclair innocent of, but all of the charges Sinclair pled guilty to.

His punishment? No demotion in rank, no forced retirement, no jail time.

Instead, a small fine that he will pay with his generous taxpayer- funded pension and a potent message to those that are thinking of coming forward: you will be dragged through the mud, and you will be punished, not the perpetrator.

A civilian would have been fired. The misuse of government funds and the gross misconduct by General Sinclair, who pled guilty to all of those charges, should have been more than enough to fire him.

I would like to say that I was shocked by this unconscionable decision, but after working on this issue for 3 years, I have learned that this pattern is the rule, not the exception.

Whether the Army intended it or not, this was a high-profile test case for whether the military can hold its highest officers accountable for committing serious offenses. It failed.

The military seems to be determined to make our point for us. The current military system of justice is incapable of meting out justice in an impartial and effective way.

When Sinclair was challenged by his staff for his conduct and remarks towards women, the general replied:

I'm the general. I'll say whatever [expletive deleted] I

want.

You know, he is right. In the military, misogynous attitudes and conduct, even violent crimes against women, are condoned and, at times, even celebrated.

In 2010, a skit was performed for General Sinclair's benefit, where a soldier wore a wig and dressed as a female officer and offered to perform oral sex for the general. This skit was performed in front of the general's wife and more than 500 people; yet this gross performance of General Sinclair's sexual misconduct was no cause for concern at the time.

Until these cases are taken out of the chain of command, the reality and perception will continue to be that the military justice system is tainted under command influence and is inherently unjust.

The American people look at how this case was handled and see that a commanding officer without legal expertise and a built-in conflict of interest is not competent to prosecute serious crimes.

It should now be clear to everyone in Congress that the military is incapable of holding perpetrators accountable. It is our duty to reform the system which we created in the first place, not the commanders whose legal training and built-in conflicts of interest have proven to be so effective.

This case is an embarrassment to the military; and, frankly, it is an embarrassment to Congress. When will we be willing to say ``enough'' and do our duty to protect our servicemembers from predators like General Sinclair?

Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to address the House tonight on what is called the Defense Logistics Agency, something probably not many people have heard about. The DLA is like a big hardware store in the Department of Defense.

About 30 years ago, we heard horrific stories about wasteful spending of taxpayers' dollars being spent: $436 on a hammer, $7,600 on coffee makers, and $640 for toilet seats. We all thought, Well, it has been taken care of. Well, not so fast.

I am showing you right now what is a plumbing elbow. At the local hardware store, this elbow sells for $1.41. But the taxpayers of this country spent $80 to a defense contractor that charged us that much money for this elbow.

How about a box of washers? At the local hardware store, we as individuals would pay something like $1.22 for this box of washers. What did the taxpayers of this country pay a defense contractor for a box of washers? How about $196.50?

So that issue that was around some 30 years ago is still with us today. It is time for the House of Representatives and for the Armed Services Committee to hold a hearing on why it is that the Defense Logistics Agency, our hardware store that is responsible for putting together good pricing on spare parts, is being overturned and overlooked by defense contractors and persons within the Department of Defense who would rather go outside and pay triple, quadruple, 100 percent more, or 200 percent more.

We are going to play a game tonight on C-SPAN called ``The Price Is Wrong,'' and see what we are talking about here. And if for 1 minute you think that we are talking about small potatoes, we are not talking about small potatoes. We are talking about a lot of money.

The Defense Department has so many excess spare parts, they have disposed of--thrown away--$15 billion in excess parts and materials in just the last 3 years. There is about $96 billion worth of spare parts inventory right now in the Defense hardware agency coffers.

So why would we ever go outside the internal hardware store to buy parts?

Well, some argue that it is faster or it is cheaper to go outside. Audits have revealed instances when the military had enough of certain parts that they would last 100 years--and they are still going outside of the Defense Logistics Agency. That is the equivalent of having spare parts that include horseshoes for a cavalry. If we were looking back in time today, that is 100 years of spare parts. The likelihood of these parts being used completely over 100 years is not so likely.

You might say, Well, maybe it is difficult for the Defense Department to figure out where their spare parts are and how much they are and how much they cost. Well, that is not correct. In fact, the Department of Defense has the resources and the databases to check the accuracy of these prices. The auditor found these overcharges by using the Department of Defense's own database. So this is no more than a click on a mouse to find out, one, whether the part is in stock and, two, how much it costs.

Well, let's start this game. The first game we are going to play is called ``Flip Flop.'' It is a game where the numbers are scrambled.

I am going to start with the gate assembly in this picture here. This is what it looks like. It is a little bit larger than a quarter. Ramp gate roller assembly. It is used for the Chinook helicopters.

You can buy this at a local hardware store for about $3.50, but because this is the military and we want the very best quality, the DLA sells this part for $7.71.

So the question is, What did the Army pay for this gate assembly? Did they pay $7.71 cents? No, they didn't pay that.

Did they pay $77.01?

No, they didn't pay that either.

Did they pay $771 for this little gate assembly part?

No.

For this ramp gate roller assembly they paid $1,678.61.

That is obscene, and that shouldn't be happening in the Department of Defense or anywhere in the Federal Government. The taxpayers should not be ripped off in that manner.

In ``The Price Is Wrong,'' taxpayers always lose because the Defense Department consistently pays too much, yet defense contractors consistently win.

So we are going to play the next game, which is ``That's Too Much.'' See what happens again when the military thinks that they can get something faster and cheaper by not going to the Defense Logistics Agency, our in-house hardware store.

This is a bearing sleeve. Let's see what we paid for this. Did we pay $6? That is what it would cost at our local defense hardware store. No, we didn't pay $6.

Was $86 too much to spend for that bearing sleeve?

No, $86 wasn't too much.

How about $286? Was that too much to pay?

No, that wasn't too much to pay either.

We paid $2,286 for a bearing sleeve that cost $6 at the Defense Department's Defense Logistics Agency.

So that is what we are dealing with here--a rip-off of the taxpayers.

The truth of the matter is that the Defense Department didn't just buy one of these bearing sleeves that we just bought one of here this evening. They bought 573 of these bearing sleeves--not for $6, not for $86, but for $2,286. And let me do the math for you. That is $1.3 million in overpayments for just these 573 bearing sleeves.

Next, we are going to talk about a spur gear for the Chinook helicopter. This is what it looks like. It is this tiny little thing smaller than a quarter. This is what is used in Chinook helicopters. We have lots of them in the DLA. But, again, they didn't want to go to the DLA, our hardware store, to actually purchase this.

They would have paid $12.51 if they had gone to the hardware store within the Department. No, they didn't want to do that.

So was $125 too much to pay for that spur gear?

No, that wasn't too much.

In fact, they were willing to pay $644.75 for this little rubberized spur gear. It was 34 times the fair and reasonable price.

So, again, why are we doing something like this? Why are we allowing the taxpayer dollars to be flushed down the toilet by not paying what is the normal price for these spare parts?

The last part is a flush door ring. Look at this. This is a pen next to it so

you can see this is a pretty small part. It is smaller than a pen the contracting officer would have used to sign off on the price. The DLA sells this part for $8.37.

Did we pay $83.37 for this product?

No, we didn't pay $83.37. That wasn't too much.

What we did pay, though, was $284.46 for this flush ring--34 times the fair and reasonable price. For that price you could go to dinner, a movie, and rent a hotel room.

Which brings me, I guess, to our last game, ``The Showcase Showdown'' on ``The Price Is Wrong.'' Much like ``The Price Is Right,'' we have this final showcase and we are going to compare two packages and guess which one costs more.

The first showcase is two ramp gate roller assemblies. This was the very first thing that we showed you earlier. Here it is. This is the item that cost $7.71.

So the question is, which costs more as a package, two ramp gate roller assemblies or a trip to Paris, France? It includes airfare and 4 nights in a four-star hotel for two adults. Which one do we think costs more?

Well, you have probably figured out that we in fact paid more for the ramp gate roller assembly, times two, than you would have paid for a trip to Paris France. The Army paid $3,357.22 for these two parts, while the trip to Paris is only $2,681.

So what are we doing here? How many more studies have to be done for us to make a serious attempt to clean up the spare parts issue in the Department of Defense?

Very recently--in fact, it just came out in February of this year-- the inspector general for the Department of Defense put out this report entitled, ``Air Force Lifecycle Management Center Could Not Identify Actual Costs of F-119 Engine Spare Parts Purchased From Pratt and Whitney.''

Can it get any more embarrassing than that? Not only are we spending extraordinary sums of money on spare parts and not using the internal hardware agency that we have, but in an inspector general's report, the Air Force can't even figure out how much it paid for the initial spare parts.

So I would close, Mr. Speaker, by saying that we have a lot to do. The Army overpaid Boeing $13 million recently, but the Pentagon only recovered $2.6 million.

It included paying twice the fair and reasonable price for kits, overpaid $16,000 for a structural support that should have only cost about $1,300.

So, all right, we overpaid; they overcharged. What happened next? Well, after the IG exposed the rip-off that had occurred, what did we do? Was that defense contractor kicked out?

No, I am sorry to say that what happened was the Air Force gave this contractor a new contract to oversee the supply chain contract. That is like giving the fox a contract to guard the chicken house.

I don't like playing this game any more than I think the taxpayers do; and it is not a game, it is truly a disaster, and it is one that we, as Members of the House of Representatives, have to clean up.

So I will continue to make the public aware of these kinds of overpayments until we fix the system. Stay tuned for the next show, ``The Price Is Wrong.''

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 4 o'clock and 31 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, March 26, 2014, at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 115th anniversary of San Francisco State University. The San Francisco State Normal School, a small women's-only teaching academy, opened its doors in March 1899. With a $10,000 stipend from the State Legislature, the school rented a building on Powell Street and offered free tuition. The first graduating class was made up of just 36 women with the motto Experientia docet--``Experience teaches.''

During the 1906 earthquake, the SF State Normal School was destroyed. Relocating at a new site on Market Street, SF State Normal School was the first public school to re-open after the destruction of the earthquake. In 1921, SF State Normal School changed its name to San Francisco Teachers' College and received authorization to grant the Bachelor of Arts degree

In the 1930s, the college chose the colors purple and gold. With sports becoming more popular at SF State, the student newspaper, ``Bay Leaf,'' called for the school to adopt a mascot. A reader proposed the alligator because ``it is strong, and we hope our teams have strength.''

In 1935, SF State Teachers College changed its name to San Francisco State College. The influx of returning WWII veterans swelled the student population from 1,117 in 1945 to 4,390 in 1950. To accommodate the growing number of students, 56 acres of land near Lake Merced was purchased to replace the cramped and aging campus.

During the 60s, SF State became the center of student activism. When the House Un-American Activities Committee met in San Francisco, students from SF State demonstrated and disrupted the Committee's hearings in City Hall. The students were fire-hosed down the steps and arrested. Student sit-ins at the Administration Building protested racial discrimination, the Vietnam War, and the draft, pressing for campus reform.

Events came to a head in 1968, with the beginning of the longest campus strike in the nation's history. This five-month event defined the University's core values of equality and social justice, laying the groundwork for establishment of the only College of Ethnic Studies in the United States.

In 1972, San Francisco State College briefly changed its name to California State University, San Francisco. The name changed when Governor Ronald Reagan signed a measure officially changing the name to San Francisco State University in 1974.

In the 80s, SF State became the first major university to select a President of Chinese-American heritage. President Chia-Wei Woo is a symbol of SF State's continual progressive attitude that has represented the larger San Francisco community. By the millennium, SF State garnered a reputation for having several prestigious educational programs, with some of the finest trained faculty in the world.

Robert A. Corrigan served as the 12th president of San Francisco State University from September 1988 to July 2012. President Corrigan became one of the longest-serving university presidents in the education system of the United States. Under his direction, SF State developed into a respected institution with the highest ranking in the nation for the number of international students at a comprehensive university. Under President Corrigan's leadership, SF State increased its grant funding. The campus had just $9 million in federal research grants and contracts when he first arrived, but by the time he left, SF State had $53 million. SF State also expanded its campus with the creation of the downtown campus at Westfield San Francisco Centre mall. I had the privilege of working with President Corrigan during my tenure in Congress and he has left a lasting legacy.

Leslie E. Wong joined San Francisco State University as its 13th president in August of 2012. He now oversees one of the nation's premier urban comprehensive universities. President Wong has hit the ground running and is frequently seen on campus cheering on student athletes, academic competitors and performers. He endowed the Leslie and Phyllis Wong Scholarship as a cornerstone of the campus-wide Students First Scholarship Campaign. Having partnered with President Wong on numerous campus events and activities, I know President Wong will continue to lead SF State into a prosperous future.

Veterans make up a good portion of the student population at the university. SF State has stayed true to its commitment in helping active duty members and veterans of military service attain their educational goals. On November 10, 2010, the Veterans Services Center opened its doors and has brought together a range of veterans' support services under one roof, including pre-admissions counseling, educational benefits assistance as well as a study area with computer workstations. I had the distinct honor of meeting several of these student veterans and thanking them for their service.

Notable alumni of San Francisco State include business leaders, elected officials, award winning authors, journalists, film stars, athletes, musicians, doctors, and scientists. This list grows with every graduating class. Though the school's name, mascot, and location have all changed, San Francisco State University remains committed to public education 115 years later. Today, SF State offers more than 200 degrees and certificates and serves nearly 30,000 students each year-- quite a different story when compared to the humble beginnings of the University.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to commend the San Francisco State University for its dedication to higher education.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to tell a story of a 17-year- old Catholic school girl from the Seattle suburbs whose dreams to join the Marine Corps were destroyed by a sexual predator.

The girl's recruiter, after discussing sexual harassment policy with her, decided to give her a big hug, then lifted her on his lap and fondled her breasts. He then tried to get her to perform oral sex on him at another visit to the Marine recruiting office; and on a third occasion, he had her fondle his genitals while the girl was riding in his car.

She told the King County District Attorney's Office that she felt pressured into the sexual contact to get a position within the Corps.

While King County investigators found the girl's claims to be credible, the recruiter's chain of command within the Marine Corps did not and returned him to his job after a brief suspension, while the high school student was denied justice and denied the job of her dreams.

Just Google ``Marines sex scandal,'' and you will find this article and several other scandalous stories about soldiers who hold these positions of trust.

These are exactly the type of stories that prompted Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to issue a directive last May to require the screening of sexual assault counselors, recruiters, and drill sergeants in all the services, looking for any criminal wrongdoing or unethical behavior.

It appears the Army took Secretary Hagel's directive seriously, as it screened 20,000 soldiers, disqualified 588, and is moving to get rid of at least 79 soldiers in these sensitive posts for offenses that include sexual assault.

Between the Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, however, only a handful of servicemembers were disqualified. The Navy, after screening more than 10,000 soldiers, first said it only disqualified five, but just yesterday, we learned that the number has skyrocketed as the Navy has actually disqualified 151 sailors from these positions of trust. The Air Force just revealed Tuesday it disqualified two soldiers after at first initially reporting none were disqualified, and the Marine Corps so far has disqualified absolutely no one.

We all know, without question, that sexual assault in the military is a crisis and that it is not simply limited to the Army. It appears to be quite clear that the services used widely divergent methodology in assessing the suitability for these servicemembers and that the different services interpreted Hagel's directive very differently. It is my understanding that one of the service's interpreted Hagel's directive so narrowly that it simply checked the civilian sexual predator registry. Hagel has, apparently, discussed with top brass in the Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps the 588 disqualifications in the Army and whether the other services will pursue a follow-up review. He has reportedly stopped short, however, of issuing another directive.

I believe Secretary Hagel should issue a directive to rescreen the officers in the other services, and I sent him a letter Tuesday urging him to do so because choosing the wrong people for these positions of trust is a betrayal for our troops. The numbers of those disqualified, by the way, were not voluntarily made public. They continue almost weekly to be unearthed by an enterprising reporter at USA Today. The DOD also hasn't revealed what actions it has taken against those who were disqualified. The public has a right to know.

I do salute the Army for scrubbing what has been a cancerous culture, evidenced by the pending court-martial of Sergeant Gregory McQueen, whose job it was to help prevent sexual assault but who, instead, was allegedly running a prostitution ring at Fort Hood.

Until the Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy follow the Army's path, however, I have little faith that the Department of Defense is capable of stamping out military sexual assault by weeding out sexual predators and other criminals in these highly important positions of trust.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the first sponsor of H.J. Res. 43, removing the deadline for the ratification of the equal rights amendment, a bill originally introduced by Representative Robert Andrews of New Jersey, for the purposes of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Ronald Davis who has been East Palo Alto's

Police Chief for the last nine years and served on Oakland's Police Department for 19 years before that. Chief Davis has demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovation in reducing crime and increasing public trust through community policing efforts and partnerships with other agencies.

His talent and skills didn't go unnoticed nationally and Chief Davis was appointed by Attorney General Eric Holder to lead the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, COPS, at the U.S. Department of Justice. In his new capacity, Director Davis supports law enforcement allies across the country, including the East Palo Alto Police Department.

Chief Davis led East Palo Alto--once known as the murder capital of the United States--out of one of the worst crime crises in the country. He launched a first of its kind partnership between a city and the State. The East Palo Alto Police Department partnered with the California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation to implement a parole-reentry program that provided programming and enforcement services and a job program with the California Department of Transportation. The results were amazing: the return-to-custody rates dropped from more than 60 percent to less than 20 percent.

Chief Davis also worked closely with local church leaders and social service providers. He rehabilitated gang members by offering job and drug counseling along with medical care to them in exchange for giving up their criminal activities. He understood and was an integral part of his community.

His optimism and drive to improve the system have guided his life and career. Davis earned his Bachelor of Science from Southern Illinois University and completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

He has co-authored multiple publications, including the National Institute of Justice's ``Exploring the Role of the Police in Prisoner Reentry,'' the Department of Justice's ``How to Correctly Collect and Analyze Racial Profiling Data: Your Reputation Depends on It,'' and the Police Executive Research Forum's ``Chief Concerns: The Use of Force.''

In 2003, a San Mateo County Grand Jury report deemed the East Palo Alto police force poorly trained and management unaccountable. Chief Davis turned that around and leaves behind a well-trained department.

Mr. Speaker, Chief Davis will be deeply missed by the residents of East Palo Alto, but he will continue his support of our community from Washington, DC, where he will continue his tireless fight for justice as the director of the Community Oriented Policing Services Office in the U.S. Department of Justice.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Dr. Jeanne A. Conry, President of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, who made major contributions to the betterment of women's health throughout her long and successful career.

The initiatives she has undertaken guarantee profound improvements in women's health.

Dr. Conry began her tenure as ACOG President by applauding the Affordable Care Act's priority on women's health, asserting that, ``By investing in this generation, we have invested in the next.'' She called on America's 58,000 ob-gyns and partners in women's health to ``lead the changes that are before us, because we are truly the leaders in women's healthcare.''

Dr. Conry's theme during her Presidency has been ``Every Woman, Every Time,'' a reminder to her profession and to us all that at every contact in our health care system, reproductive health choices and well-woman care are a necessity.

Her work urges recognition that socioeconomic, demographic, biologic and behavioral differences among women can impact reproductive outcomes greatly.

As part of her leadership, Dr. Conry developed the National Maternal Health Initiative, a partnership to bring together leaders in public and private health policy to improve maternal health outcomes. It includes ACOG; the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM); the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses; the American College of Nurse-Midwives; Merck for Mothers; and the Maternal Child Health Branch of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Dr. Conry has pointed to the successful focus on newborn outcomes that show fetal and infant mortality have decreased by almost 30 percent in the past three decades. Her research shows that maternal mortality has actually increased, however, and in some states by almost 50 percent. Her conclusions reveal African-American women have a maternal mortality rate up to four times higher than white women. These significant findings will improve pregnancy outcomes for generations to come.

Dr. Conry's efforts emphasize the reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality through access to contraception planning, and ensuring safety in maternity care. Her initiatives have led to better outcomes through life-course planning, obesity and exercise awareness, and redesigning the postpartum visit to optimize future health and pregnancy outcomes.

She has established a process to regionalize care so that women at high risk deliver at hospitals that can meet their needs. The initiative has gone toward identifying and implementing protocols for maternity risk conditions such as hemorrhaging, hypertension, thromboembolism, cardiac disease, and sepsis.

Dr. Corny has called on all leaders in maternity care to guide this change in women's health care. Her career has also been dedicated to better understanding and investigating how the environment impacts reproductive health by proposing a broader analysis of the health effects that pharmaceuticals, diet, drugs, tobacco, alcohol, radiation and chemicals in the environment have on women.

Her leadership and legacy extend to improving women's health by initiating partnerships to facilitate coordination and harmonization of clinical guidelines in Great Britain, Canada, the United States and other ob-gyn societies. These guidelines now provide direction for maternal health programs as well as the practice of obstetrics and gynecology around the world.

And of course, Dr. Conry's advocacy for women's health here in Washington, D.C. is truly exceptional. From stopping legislative interference in medical practice, to ensuring and protecting ACA coverage of contraceptives, to leading ob-gyns as they visit the Hill in March for improved care of gestational diabetes, Dr. Conry's advocacy knows no bounds.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Dr. Jeanne Conry, whose devotion and leadership has advanced the improvement of women's health by leaps and bounds here in the United States and abroad.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Anthony J. Zidich for his 42 years of remarkable and professional service as the City Treasurer of Daly City. Tony is setting a record as the longest-serving elected official in the city's history. His perseverance, open-door policy and love of people, politics and baseball have made him a beloved institution in Daly City.

Tony was appointed City Treasurer of Daly City in December 1971 to fill the unexpired term of Joseph Lewkowitz and he assumed office the following January. He was then elected eleven consecutive times. Before that, he served on the Daly City Recreation Commission for two years. Under Tony's leadership, the Daly City treasury has been well safe- guarded. In recent years, it was fashionable for some public treasurers to imagine themselves as miniature versions of Wall Street bankers. And many of these agencies suffered greatly during the Great Recession. Daly City stood up well because Tony had prudently managed the city's funds and decided to leave Wall Street banking to self-declared geniuses who, as history has since proven, were not as smart as Tony Zidich. The real genius of Tony Zidich is quite simple: He gets the job done in good times and bad, through thick and thin, and with complete integrity.

Tony was a founding member of the board of directors of the supporters of the Doelger

Senior Center and continues to be its treasurer. During Tony's stewardship, Doelger has been a major institution in the city, offering senior programming, space for community events and classes of various types. A good treasurer is essential for any long-time community program and Doelger and its seniors can count on Tony to ensure that the money raised by this volunteer organization is always safe and available to support its programs.

Tony's public service is not limited to Daly City, however. He has also served on numerous boards, committees and clubs, including the board of Bay Meadows and Los Alamitos race tracks, the San Mateo County Treasurer's Advisory Board, the Daly City Police Athletic League and the Daly City Credit Union. There is a theme in Tony's service: Building fiscal and human resources to support the future.

In addition to his long and outstanding public service, Tony is a well-known realtor in Daly City. That job has earned him the trust of residents who refer to him as the ``go to guy.'' He can tell residents the history of nearly every block of Daly City. His stories about Daly City are always entertaining and offer tremendous insights into the evolution of this remarkable community. In his office, Tony proudly displays his collection of memorabilia and toys and will engage anyone in a conversation about city politics, city history or baseball.

Tony grew up in San Francisco's Potrero Hill neighborhood. He attended Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep where his passion for baseball thrived. Known as ``Babe'' for his skills on the field, he was later inducted into the school's Sports Hall of Fame.

Tony joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in San Francisco during the Korean War. He met the love of his life at a dance at the Presidio. Carole Williams and Tony married in 1956 and raised their beautiful and intelligent daughter Debra in Daly City.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Anthony Zidich, an extraordinary public servant, businessman and humanitarian whose energy, enthusiasm and expertise have enriched the lives of all Daly City residents. He will be greatly missed at City Hall, but if anyone comes to Daly City and wants to play ball, they'd better go see Tony first. He knows all of the players in the city, and he will freely offer game-changing advice to all who seek to build a better future for his beloved community of Daly City.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the hardworking Americans who are being left behind in this country. Some sectors of our economy are recovering from the great recession, but not all boats are rising, not even close.

I recently spent a night in a homeless shelter and was dismayed that it was filled with members of the middle class and that earning above the minimum wage did not protect them from having to share a dorm room with dozens of other people.

The reality is a subclass of workers has emerged who do play by the rules and work hard, but find that they are literally only one step away from living on the streets by a single medical emergency or a slow day, if you are working for tips at $2.13 an hour. They work full time; but after putting in a full day, they go home to a homeless shelter.

We interact with these people every day. They take our food orders; they fix our cars and bag our groceries. They aren't looking for handouts or begrudging the success of others, but are simply trying to meet their basic needs. They face huge obstacles in finding a home in housing markets where rental costs have escalated beyond their reach.

Working 40 hours a week used to mean a minimum standard of living and a foothold on the first rung of the economic ladder to the middle class, but not anymore.

Let me tell you about some of their stories. One woman I spoke to was working at a Safeway in the bakery department. Her husband was working at OfficeMax in the warehouse. They were full-time wage earners, and they were living in a homeless shelter because they had to put together so much money for the first and last month's rent.

No one should be forced to live in shelters while they are working full time; but according to the National Center on Family Homelessness, 29 percent of the homeless in this country have jobs.

Let me tell you who else populates homeless shelters: veterans. That night, I listened to several veterans battling PTSD. One Iraq veteran who saw heavy combat said he once had a six-figure job in a Silicon Valley company before falling prey to drugs and alcohol.

We talked for a long time, as he slowly and haltingly unfolded his story about the worst side of battle that torments him to this day. He said: My country forced me to do terrible things.

Another veteran said she was raped while serving, but was eventually dishonorably discharged for admitting she was gay during the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy days. Her life has spiraled down since then.

A single mother with four children at another shelter I visited told me she was hastily evicted when the unit she rented was deemed illegal by housing authorities. Her $19 an hour job made her too rich for child care assistance, forcing her into homelessness. By the way, the father is nowhere to be found to pay child support.

After listening to the hardships of working families, veterans, and single mothers, I left the next day, committed to doing more. We should all be doing more in Congress. We should all be spending a night in a homeless shelter in our districts to hear the stories of our constituents; or just spend a few

hours at one. It will inform you in ways that go way beyond the mere numbers.

We need to understand why 1.6 million children are homeless at least one night in the year and why the number of homeless children enrolled in public schools has risen 72 percent since 2006.

Our inaction is crippling working families, single mothers, and veterans who have sacrificed so much for this Nation. I call on my colleagues today to take the homeless shelter challenge.

Talk to your constituents who do not have a home, and meet the families who are failing because of our indifference and our inaction.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Beth Hunkapiller who has been named San Carlos Citizen of the Year for her outstanding and numerous contributions to San Carlos schools and the community at large. Beth is a 20-year veteran of the San Carlos School Board, and has worked tirelessly to ensure that our children have access to a quality education and to outstanding facilities.

Beth was instrumental in creating the San Carlos Charter Learning Center, the first charter school in California. She served as a founding member and chair of the State Board of Education's Advisory Commission on Charter Schools. She also served as the Department of Education's Charter School Division Director. She currently is the chair of the board of directors of Aspire Public Schools, the largest charter school organization in California.

It was Beth's experience as a parent that got her deeply involved in education. She was a volunteer teacher in her son's co-op nursery school and a Girl Scout Daisy troop coordinator. She later served as Heather PTA president, Heather Fun Day Chair, a member of an Ad Hoc Superintendent Selection Citizen Committee, and a campaign chair for the Committee to Defeat the Voucher.

After her election to the school board in 1993, Beth continued volunteering her time and expertise to the Healthy Cities Tutoring program which strives to help children who struggle to succeed in school. Beth was routinely re-elected by wide margins since 1993.

When it comes to supporting public schools, Beth Hunkapiller is at the head of her class. The San Carlos Education Foundation has been a success in large part because of its amazing volunteer parents, but also in part to one forever parent: Beth Hunlcapiller. Year after year, Beth and her husband Mike have been generous donors and have set the standard for philanthropy within any community. But Beth doesn't just write checks. She volunteers for the largest annual fundraiser, Spring Fling, and she lent her credibility as a school board member to volunteer efforts to raise funds from residents and businesses in and around San Carlos. She and her amazing husband, Mike, started ``Fund-A- Need'' ten years ago, an effort that is emblematic of their vision and generosity. The Hunkapillers have matched donations raised for specific needs such as science equipment, LCD projectors, smart boards, computers, iPads, PE needs, counseling and wellness programs, literacy specialists, calculators, musical instruments, art supplies and teacher development training.

I must also note, Mr. Speaker, that Mike Hunkapiller is an outstanding business leader and that his expertise contributed to modern science being able to efficiently sequence the human genome. It could be said of Beth and Mike that they are a real team. Mike figures out what makes us tick and Beth figures out how to make us tick better, through education.

No mention of Beth's record in education would be complete without mentioning her ceaseless efforts to support bond measures and parcel taxes. Beth is an advocate for fiscal responsibility, and in her role as a trustee, Beth was noted for asking important questions to ensure accountability by the administration for the funds that were raised. Beth realizes that education is the foundation of democracy, and a well-funded education is the foundation of every classroom. In public forums large and small, and literally across decades, Beth has lent tier voice and credibility to the effort to grow the capacity of the district to support new waves of children as they entered the schools.

Mr. Speaker, the schools in San Carlos are bursting at the seams, so much so that many new classrooms will soon be built. Young couples routinely mention the schools as their primary reason for moving into San Carlos. Beth is being named as the Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce, but the local realtors should name her salesperson of the century. The schools of San Carlos are beloved. Beth would be the first to note that it takes a remarkable team of parents and staff and administrators to create outstanding schools, but make no mistake, Beth deserves a fair share of the credit.

The Hunkapillers have raised their two children in San Carlos and their children graduated from Heather, Central, Menlo High School and Stanford. Their grandson now attends the Charter Learning Center. Beth is

also an active member of the San Carlos Rotary.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Beth Hunkapiller for her recognition by the Chamber of Commerce as Citizen of the Year. I couldn't think of a more deserving candidate. Beth is a beacon of public service and an inspiration to all of the residents of the City of Good Living, San Carlos, California.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Michael Callagy for his 29 years of exemplary service at the San Mateo Police Department, the last seven as Deputy Chief. He has been a tireless and effective advocate to enhance the relationship between the police and the community.

During his long career, Deputy Chief Callagy has supervised every unit in the department. He was assigned to investigations,

field operations, the special operations unit, the street crimes suppression team, robbery, the homicide and sexual assault unit, vice and narcotics, persons crimes investigator, property crimes investigator, community services, support services, SWAT, hostage negotiator, field training officer, oversight of public information officer, technology-related projects, narcotics unit, traffic enforcement, neighborhood response team, reserves and K-9 programs, major criminal investigations, internal affairs, crime analysis, communications, and records. In 2012, distressed by the high rate of recidivism, Deputy Chief Callagy formed the domestic violence unit to end the cycle of violence. As you can surmise from this long list, there isn't a task or field Deputy Chief Callagy can't tackle; however, narcotics and undercover work remain his specialty.

Michael Callagy was born in San Francisco and grew up in Daly City. He graduated from Serra High School in 1980. He earned a Masters in Public Administration from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont and a law degree from Santa Clara University. In 2010, he received his Masters in Homeland Security and Defense from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. He is a member of the California State Bar and a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

The efficiency and effectiveness of Deputy Chief Callagy's work has been widely recognized. He received awards from the San Mateo County Trial Lawyers Association, San Mateo County Gang Task Force, Governor Gray Davis' School Safety Wireless Phone Program, Avoid the 23, and San Mateo Police Activities League. The San Mateo Police Department awarded him the Gordon Joinville Special Merit Award for his leadership in developing youth services and programs. The District Attorney's Office has commended him for his outstanding skills in investigating and solving crimes.

Deputy Chief Callagy and his wife Lisa are the proud parents of four children, Brianna, Ryan, Shannon and Kevin.

Mr. Speaker, Deputy Chief Callagy's commitment to keep our communities safe has earned him the admiration and adoration of residents and his colleagues alike. While he will be deeply missed by the San Mateo Police Department, he will continue to serve and protect the residents of San Mateo County in his new role as Deputy County Manager. I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor an outstanding public servant and first-class police officer.